Sprout Day 187 (Friday, September 30, 2016)

We woke up early to the sound of thunder and heavy rain. No one showed up to the shelter yesterday and since our tent was already up and dry under the porch we just slept in the tent.

This shelter is .3 off trail and it's a steep climb down. It doesn't look like too many people use it. There isn't anyone on the trail right now anyway. With the rain and thunder we just stayed in bed and decided to wait it out. The rain didn't stop and we eventually decided to stay here for the day. I'm glad we did because it rained off and on all day. It would've been a wet miserable day had we hiked on. The ledges are slippery around here so it's easy to fall. Walking over some of the rocks feels like walking on ice. We made the right decision.

It's funny we’re even at this shelter because normally we wouldn't come to a shelter this far off trail unless we needed water (that’s probably why it doesn’t seem as if a lot of people use this shelter). After we were here I realized this is the shelter I was looking up and reading about last winter. I wanted to come here and see what the old property looked like. I wish I could've seen the old house still standing but it's still cool to see it with the frame and chimneys still standing. All the rubble in the middle just adds to the character. I'd like to see some old pictures of what the property looked like back in its prime. Going down to the spring in front of the old house made me think a lot about how life must of been for the Sarver family. The house was built in the 1850’s and four generations of Sarvers lived in it.

Day: 187
Miles hiked: 0
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1515.5
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 186 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)

Last night was a wet night because it rained all night. It started around 9:30 and rained until 8:00 a.m. the next morning. It was lightning, thundering, and raining really hard. After awhile the ground underneath the tent got wet and made the bottom kind of damp. Some of the edges of the tent were wet and everything felt damp but for the most part we were dry.

It was cold first thing in the morning again. With everything being wet we just lay in the tent until it all stopped. We had a little cell service, enough to know we were getting hit with more rain.

We packed everything and headed about 3.5 miles down to the Server Hollow Shelter. It was slippery steep hike down over ledges. The shelter is big and nice with a huge porch area and a picnic table. It felt good to get under something dry knowing rain was coming later in the day.

We decided to stay where we were and dry everything out the best we could. The water source was nice and clear and cold. I'm glad we stayed there because a storm came through not long after we got there. Now, before bed, it’s raining and thundering again.

This shelter is cool. Down by the water source I noticed some ruins of an old house and a couple other buildings. These were the ruins of an old homestead. The Sarvers lived here a long time ago. There's evidence of their house and a cabin. There are also stones which I think was the family cemetery. They say this shelter is haunted by a guy named George. They're not sure if he was a member of the family or not but in the middle of the night sometimes you can hear him walk across the shelter with his cane. We will see how the rest of the night goes but so far nothing but the thunder is giving the place an eerie feeling!

Day: 186
Miles hiked: 3.4
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1515.5
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 185 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)

We woke up today with temperatures colder than it has been in some time. It was in the high 40s - low 50s. It was cold enough for me to put on some pants and my jacket. I bundled up and put water on for breakfast early. I could even see my breath. It was a little cool but perfect hiking weather once you get moving.

We went 12.7 miles with some steep incline changes. We would've made it further but we had a storm roll through and we waited it out in a shelter. After the storm passed we went another three miles. I am lying here now and listening to another the thunderstorm close by. I hope it doesn't get too bad out there but we're ready for it if it gets bad.

After hiking for 2.7 miles, we made it to the top of a 1,400 foot incline change. At the top was a sign of the Eastern Continental Divide. Water on one side of the mountain leads to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico and the other side leads to the James River and the Atlantic Ocean.

There are ledges with a view towards the direction of tomorrow’s sunrise. We are getting up early and heading that way so hopefully there will be a nice sunrise in the morning.

Our day was epic because we hit 1500 miles and it's our 6 month anniversary on trail! It feels great to still be on trail and it's crazy to think we've walked 1500 miles!!! Life is good on the Appalachian Trail. l I love being out here and getting closer to our goal, Springer Mountain!

We went past a cool memorial for Audie Murphy one of the most decorated war veterans. There were some benches up there, a big flag, and a bunch of other things people took up there. It was a great memorial.

We made it 1500 miles!

Day: 185
Miles hiked: 12.7
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1512.1
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1

Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 184 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)

We got a late start out of Four Pines Hostel. I set the tent up out in the barn because it was raining all day and night. The barn kept us dry and kept us from sleeping in the garage. The barn has enough ground space for a few tents and there are benches along the wall, some couches, and chairs inside too. It's such a big barn he also stores stuff in here, a boat, a tractor, and other things. No one else set up out there so we had the place to ourselves. It was dark inside even when the sun came up so it was hard to wake up and get going.

We did wake up at 8:00 a.m. and I made myself go down to the garage. I just wanted to lay there and sleep but knew I had to get moving and get back on the trail. We packed our bags and drank lots of coffee. Bubbles made us scrambled eggs for breakfast. The owners Joe and Donna have chickens on the property and let hikers have as many eggs as they want. I love fresh farm eggs so it was much appreciated. Thank you!

Another thing about Joe is that he loves to play corn hole. It was fun watching him play and funny listening to him talk crap to whomever he was playing against. I really liked four pines; it was a unique place with really nice people.

We hiked around 7 miles and are staying at Pickle Shelter. The weather should be nice tomorrow so hopefully we can knock out some big miles. We also had something different for dinner. We packed out a few red potatoes, an onion, and some garlic. We made a fire and cooked them in tin foil. It was delicious.

Day: 184
Miles hiked: 6.7
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1499.4

Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15

Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 183 (Monday, September 26, 2016)

We were surprised to wake up to rain. We knew it was supposed to rain in the afternoon but thought we would have good weather in the morning.

We got up, packed, and tried to figure out the best plan for the day. Since the weather was looking horrible and storms were moving in later in the day we decided to slack pack 6 miles from where we got off trail and hike back to four pines.

It was a good move. We got the six miles done and were back to the hostel right as the storms started. It rained most of the day with thunder and lightning; we were happy to be in a safe dry place for the day.

For the most part we relaxed all day. We went with the shuttle driver to drop someone off at the airport. He was going to stop at Walmart on the way home and we wanted to get a few things from the store. We all pitched in a got a few frozen pizzas and some ice cream and apple pie.

A few different hikers showed up throughout the day. This is an interesting place and it seems like we got here just in time to meet some interesting hikers. It's been great being here we've had fun and it felt good to stay dry when it was raining.

We're going to get up tomorrow, have breakfast, and make our way to the trail. It should be a great day for hiking it's supposed to be in the low 70's.

Day: 183
Miles hiked: 5.9
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1492.7
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 182 (Sunday, September 25, 2016)

We got to the campsite late last night and I didn't sleep the best. Our tent was on an incline and the people at the shelter were loud. On the weekend a lot of people go out and camp around McAfee Knob because it is such an iconic place and because it's only about 4 miles from the trailhead parking lot.

We woke up early today. My alarm went off at 4:45 and I got up and started to pack my things. The whole game plan was to get up to Mcafee Knob for the sunrise. We didn't get much of a sunrise because the fog was so heavy. We had a great time but there were so many people up at the Knob by the time it was light it was a little crazy. Someone got engaged up there and a lot of their friends hiked up for that and also a lot of day hikers were there. The weather was perfect for hiking so I couldn't blame them for wanting to get out for a hike.

Once we got down to the parking lot at Route 311 we called the Four Pines Hostel and they sent the dragon wagon to come get us. Blank, the driver, was at the hostel doing work for stay. The dragon wagon is an old astro van with a huge dragon painted on the side. Blank was nice he took us through the gas station before we went to the hostel.

Four pines has been great.  When we first got there we got our laundry together and took showers, it felt great to take a shower and we really needed one after the hot and humid week.

We went to a restaurant called Home Place and it was the best food I've had in a long time (probably one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to). I wasn’t sure what to expect because it just looked like a huge house with a parking lot. It was an all you can eat southern cooking family style restaurant. I heard the fried chicken was the best around. We didn't have to wait too long for a table. We all had to decide what to get - the choices were two meats and a bunch of different sides to choose from. We ended up getting fried chicken and ham for the meat and mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, biscuits, apple butter, and an apple cinnamon side. Everything was delicious but I will never forget the fried chicken, The fried chicken was so good it melted in your mouth and the sides were delicious. We also got cobbler and iv cream for dessert it was so good.

Day: 182
Miles hiked: 4.4
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1486.6
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 181 (Saturday, September 24, 2016)

We had another great day and hiked 14.8 miles to Campbell's Shelter tonight. It’s only 0.7 miles to McAfee Knob.

It was really hot and humid today and it’s been difficult to find water. A lot of the water sources are dried up or its just a nasty puddle. You take what you can get when it’s this bad but I hate when the water has a white film on the top.

We hiked to Tinkers Cliffs and waited on the sun to set and had dinner. It was a beautiful sunset so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. We had 5 miles to walk after the cliffs to get to Campbell's Shelter. We wanted to get as close to McAfee knob as we could. Our plan is to wake up around 445 and pack up and go up to McAfee knob and wait on the sunrise. It'll only be a few miles after that to get to the road where the hostel will come pick us up. I'm excited to get to the hostel and get a shower and wash my clothes.

I saw a huge black snake on trail this afternoon. There were a lot of big boulders and different cliffs on the way up here it was a great section the only thing that would've made it better would have been more water!

While hiking into the Lamberts Meadow shelter we ran into an older couple from the area. They were from the area and were going to the campsite to see a tree. When we got there we saw what they meant. A huge tree fell last Wednesday and crushed the picnic table! After talking to them they told us that the tree fell on a tent last Wednesday with a mom and daughter inside. The daughter was ok but the mom had a punctured lung, broken ribs, and a few other problems. It was definitely a huge reminder of how important it is to check the trees before we set up our tent. A dead tree is something to stay away from!

We can't wait to see Mcafee Knob in the morning, there's going to be a bunch of people up there since it's a weekend. Oh well, I'm still excited!

Tinker's Cliff at sunset

Day: 181
Miles hiked: 15.4

Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1482.4
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 180 (Friday, September 23, 2016)

We had a pretty good day as it was only 8.5 miles into Daleville. We got up early and got into town right around noon. As soon as you walk off the trail you're in a gas station parking lot so we got chips and drinks and sat at the picnic table.

Whiskers had to go to the post office to get a package. We were just going to resupply for the next two days at the Kroger in town. We're staying at a hostel in two days and have a package there waiting for us. There was this nice local who took Whiskers down to get his packages. It was a mile away, but it was a mile in the opposite direction we were going. When Whiskers was done with his resupply from home we all went to get some food from Wendy's and charged our phones.

Kroger was in the same shopping center so it worked out perfect. There was an outfitters store right there too, we both needed fuel so that was a plus. We ended up staying in Daleville longer than expected but we got our next few days figured out.

We plan on staying at the Campbell Shelter tomorrow to catch the sunset there and wake up really early on sun to catch the sunrise at McAfee Knob. It should be an amazing couple of days. I've been looking forward to McAfee Knob and I love a great sunset and sunrise. We've heard the sunset is amazing at the shelter. Four springs hostel is only 4-5 miles from the Knob so that will get us in early. We will have plenty of time to get everything together. saWe have to charge our charging units, laundry and get our resupply package all sorted out. It felt good eating some town food and getting a few things from the store. It was hot today I hope the weather gets a little cooler soon it's been too hot and the water hasn't been the best thru this little stretch.

Day: 180
Miles hiked: 8.6
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1467
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 179 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)

We got up at 5:15 and were on the trail by 6:15. It felt good to be on trail early, right as the sun was coming up. We also had a great day as we hiked 16.4 miles!

We came across a group of bird watchers waiting to see the hawk migration. Some of the people have been going up to this spot for 18 days waiting! Thousands of Hawks migrate through. I wish they would've came through when we were there. I bet it's a crazy site to see!

We also saw a couple of hunters out with their dogs. This time of the year they take their dogs out to train them to tree bears. They take them out with a good tracker and follow them until they get a bear in a tree. Right now they can't shoot the bears they are just training the dogs. It's a whole different world down here. I couldn't imagine going out and hunting a bear with a pack of dogs. Water hasn't been the best lately and we've heard the further south we go the worse it'll be. We're going to have to get used to packing more water with us. 

Happy Birthday Poppa Lip!

Day: 179
Miles hiked: 16.4
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1458.4
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 178 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)

We woke up at 5:45 a.m. and made breakfast and cowboy coffee. It was dark and the moon was still out so we grabbed our headlamps and started our daily routine. Once I've 100% decided I'm getting up for the day I sit up and immediately let the air out of my mattress. I have a quick release valve so when I open it there's no turning back! As soon as I get dressed I go grab the food bags and start boiling water. I usually have enough time to get most of my gear packed while the water is boiling and the coffee is settling.

It was a little cold this morning until the sun came up. We ended up going 12 miles to Cove Mountain Shelter. There's not any water for a good little stretch so we had to pack water up to the shelter a few miles and there's not going to be any for 6 miles tomorrow.

We packed up plenty for dinner and breakfast in the morning and enough to drink on until the next water source. Our packs were a little heavier towards the end of the day but we have to have water. We want to get up early tomorrow and get as far as we can because we still have 25 miles to Daleville.

Day: 178
Miles hiked: 11.9
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1444.2
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 177 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)

It felt good to get up early and get on trail. We didn't hear any bears last night but know that there's been a lot of bear sightings just up the trail about eight miles. We've heard there's a bear hanging around Thunder Hill Shelter and has been trying to get hikers food bags all year. I’m glad we didn't go any further yesterday. We can hike past that shelter today and avoid the whole situation.

Last night we heard three different sets of military jets fly over our camp. They were low, I've never heard a jet that loud in my life! It made the ground rubble which was crazy. We looked at the map and saw there's a military base close by.

We went 12.2 miles today and we're staying at Cornelius Creek Shelter. The humidity finally went down a little today (thank goodness) so it was nice weather to hike in early in the day. Right now, in the evening, it's a little colder than it has been, but it still feels good.

There are still not many people on the trail but I did meet an older guy from Ohio. He was from Bluffington or something like that in northwest Ohio. There's been a lot of people on the trail from back home.

Day: 177
Miles hiked: 12.2
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1430.1
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1

Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 176 (Monday, September 19, 2016)

I woke up to the sound of rain last night around 2. I was glad we ended up staying in the shelter because it rained all night and into the morning until 10:00 a.m. So much for an early rise! Since it was raining and lightning we staying in the shelter until it stopped. It felt good to sleep in and it felt even better knowing all of our stuff was dry!

The rain didn't make the temperature any cooler either, it actually just made it worse. It was very humid all day and we spent most of the day going up a mountain.  Due to the weather we didn't get far, only 5.5 miles.

We're staying at Marble Spring campsite tonight. We have 49 miles until the next town, Daleville. Our plan is to get up early tomorrow and try to get over the next mountain before more rain moves in. I think it's supposed to rain for a couple hours in the afternoon. We only saw two other hikers today, the girl that was camping at the shelter with us, and a section hiker.

According to Bubbles, she finally found someone who walks the same pace as her!

Day: 176
Miles hiked: 12.7
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1412.4
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1

Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 175 (Sunday, September 18, 2016)

Today we hiked 12.7 miles and we're staying at Matts Creek Shelter. It was a good day with only a couple of big climbs and one really big decline. The last four miles was kind of flat and was a great hiking trail.

We got up early at 6:00 a.m., before the sun rose, and made oatmeal and a pot of cowboy coffee. It was 8:00 a.m. by the time we cleaned, got packed, and were ready to go. We were going to go a little further than the Matts Creek Shelter but when we got into cell service area we saw it was supposed to rain at 7 off and on and throughout the night. We wanted to stay close to a shelter in case it rained too hard.

There are not many people on the trail down here right now. There is one other hiker at the shelter tonight, a girl in a hammock going south. I think she said she started in New Hampshire. We also met a nice day-hiker about a mile and a half from the shelter. He said he was planning on southbounding from Maine to his home town here in Virginia next year with his wife.

During our hike today we crossed the James River on the James River footbridge. At almost 1000 feet long it's the longest bridge on the Appalachian Trail. We heard from a couple different people and saw a sign about how bears have been a problem in this area in the recent weeks.

We heard the shelter we were wanting to stay at tomorrow has had bad problems with a bear coming around the shelter. All it takes is one hiker to not hang their food, or get too careless with their pack, and it ruins it for others behind them. Once a bear gets food from one person the bear associates people with food. We'll see how tomorrow goes and how tomorrow night is with the possible bear in the area. Maybe we will be able to go past the next shelter and get a little further down the trail!

Hopefully it isn't raining when we get up in the morning because I want to try to get out of bed early to make breakfast again. I'd like to get on the trail a couple hours earlier tomorrow.

Day: 175
Miles hiked: 12.7
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1412.4
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1

Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12

Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 174 (Saturday, September 17, 2016)

We got back on trail after taking an unplanned zero in Buena Vista. Bubbles shoes didn't show up at the post office so we had to figure out a plan B. She couldn't hike anymore in crocs as she just did the past 50 miles in them. The shoes that she got in Richmond did not fit her feet right and were giving her major blisters and hurting her feet in general.

We didn't know what we were going to do because the post office wasn't going to be open again until Monday and they told us they already got all the deliveries for the day. To make matters worse, New Balance wasn’t much help. They couldn't even give us a tracking number for the order!

Poppa Lip decided he was going to bring Bubbles the shoes she needed. He had an extra pair at the house for when the ones we were waiting on got too beat up and needed replaced. He drove six hours to meet us at the campground in Buena Vista! Thanks a lot Poppa Lip. We appreciate everything you do for us!

It was great seeing him and we were at a perfect spot for him to come meet us. He was able to drive his van right up to where we were camping. We got up early this morning and went to the Food Lion and grabbed breakfast at Denney’s.

By 11:00 a.m. we were on the trail and went 11.3 miles to the Punch Bowl Shelter. There are three other people here, two section hikers and I'm not sure about the other guy. I got here at the same time as Whiskers. We filled our water and set up camp on top of a hill behind the shelter. We are planning on 15 miles tomorrow now that Bubbles isn’t hindered by her Crocs!

Interesting Sculpture

Back on the trail

Brown Mountain Creek History

You can see some ruins through the leaves

Make it to Brown Mountain Shelter

Look at those new shoes!

More Brown Mountain Creek Community History

Taking a short break

Time to fill up the water

It's great to get some history of the area when we are on the trail

Dinner on the trail

Day: 174
Miles hiked: 11.3
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1399.7
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Bubbles Our southern adventure begins (Thursday, September 1 - Friday, September 16)

The drive down from Maine was crazy. We drove what had taken us five months of hiking in a matter of mere hours. We all took turns driving and made it Pennsylvania safely. We were going to stay at a hotel but had to wait for check in. We smelled so bad and decided to go to a truck stop but it was 11 dollars a person to shower and we thought it was a bit pricey. Dad drove us to the local YMCA and we showered and it was so nice. We finally got in the hotel room and relaxed the whole day.

The next day dad took us to Harper's Ferry and we went back to the conservancy. If you've never been I suggest everyone visit this gem. The people who work there are great and it's awesome to see all the hiker photos. We found an old photo of my dad from the 80's with his boy scout troop!!

Afterwards we went and met Mikey's son Jeremy and his wife Manisha. We had Mexican and it was so good. We then went to Johnny’s house. I was so excited to see him but bummed that his wife Rachel and my niece Charlotte were in Ohio. We spent time with Johnny and we were reunited with Whiskers. We picked him up on my Birthday and it was a joyous occasion. Dad took us to a KFC buffet. It was amazing. :)

We spent a week off trail healing our feet, knees, backs and ankles. The rest was much appreciated. When we got back on trail PorterHouse came out and camped out on the trail for the night with us. It was a great experience. We had so much fun. The next morning I was excited to get back on trail and get hiking south.

After one day back on trail however I was in so much pain. I got new shoes and I had blisters. The trail runners I was wearing were no longer available from New Balance. We only hiked 12 miles too. I had to figure out something else.

We found some new shoes online from zappos and I was so happy. But I wouldn't get them until Buena Vista. I had to either wear the shoes that killed my feet or wear crocs. I decided crocs was my best bet. It sucked pretty bad, but I did it! I even hiked the Priest in Crocs. It was a great feeling to know I could do it. Those 50 miles were tough, but with the promise of new kicks I was fueled forward to keep hiking and living the dream.

When we got to Buena Vista my shoes were not at the post office! I was so upset so naturally I called my parents. My dad had ordered me three pairs and the two extras had been sent to Ohio. My dad got in his car and drove six hours to give me shoes! When I say I have the best parents and family in the world, I'm not exaggerating. I am so blessed and I couldn't do this hike without them and Robby.

Time to flop south!

Boy Scout Troop 160 - Poppa Lip is 4th from left side.
July 6, 1983 - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Sprout, Bubbles, and Whiskers meet up again!

Onward we go

Bug

The Priest Wilderness - George Washington National Forest

And, I'm hiking in crocs again!

My new shoes

My hero!

Sprout Day 173 (Friday, September 16, 2016)

Our unplanned zero day in Buena Vista, Virginia. 

View from the campsite

Poppa Lip sleeping in the hammock again!

Sprout Day 172 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)

Today we hiked 12 miles to the parking lot at US 60, which will take us into Buena Vista, Virginia. We're excited to get into town because Bubbles has been hiking in Crocs for the past four days and has shoes at the post office waiting. The hike into town wasn't too bad, there were some ups and downs but the hike was nice.

I got to the parking lot at Route 60 and met up with Whiskers. He was there with a few other hikers as well. Three hikers were getting picked up from someone and one other hiker, PJ, was getting picked up by his uncle. He knew we needed a ride and offered us a ride into town. We were relieved because the nine mile hitch into town could have been difficult for 3 smelly hikers!

We went to the Glen Maury Park Campground at the edge of town. No one was working when we got there but the showers were free and someone told us to pick any spot and set up camp. I think I can get used to this Southern hospitality!

Next, we got a ride to a Mexican restaurant and had dinner. Then we made our way to the campsite. It felt amazing to have a hot shower.

Our plan is to get up early and get breakfast, then head to the post office because they open at 8:30. We have to get our resupply and Bubble’s shoes. The air is starting to feel like fall. I love all the different seasons and the changes they bring!

Make sure we are heading in the right direction

Met a fun guy on the trail today

As the season changes to autumn the greenery is becoming more subdued

Time to climb

Still blooms on this tree

View from the campground

Day: 172
Miles hiked: 12.1
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1388.4
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 171 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)

We went 8.8 miles today and we're staying at a campsite by the Piney River. We were planning on going further but we got a later start than normal and it's hard to hike in Crocs. Bubbles is getting her new shoes tomorrow, we're happy to get her into some hiking shoes and out of the crocs!

Truth Pick went ahead because she had to get to a different town to pick up a package by Saturday. I got a fire going as soon as I got to camp. There is plenty of room to camp and the water isn't too bad.

We have heard owls the past few nights. They start hooting at dusk and sometimes we'll hear them throughout the night. It's a comforting feeling to hear them right before bed.

The hiking hasn't been too bad since we flipped down to Virginia. It's a lot easier hiking than Maine! There's not so many rocks and not many roots in the trail. Things have been great with other hikers too. It helps that there are not nearly as many people going south right now and we're seeing some of the people we crossed up north when they were at the beginning of their hike.

Living in the woods seems like totally normal way to live. Especially the sounds and the sights. It’s a great way to live!

Our path today

Beautiful weather!

Keeping 4 wheelers off the trial

Safety information about Bear Activity

Day: 171
Miles hiked: 8.8
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1376.3
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 170 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)

We made it up The Priest and did a total of 13.5 miles. Bubbles is in Crocs now. Her new shoes were killing her and a different type of new shoes are being delivered to the Buena Vista post office. It was about 3000 ft elevation change and it was humid. It's hard to hike up that when the humidity is so high but I was drinking plenty of water and eating enough food to make it.

Right before we started climbing The Priest we passed the Tye River and stopped for a quick dip to cool off. It felt great and we wished we could've stayed a little longer! We were going to stay at The Priest Shelter but got to the ledges .3 miles from the shelter. The spot was perfect with plenty of camping and an amazing view.

Truth Pick was already at the shelter. Whiskers stayed with our packs and got a fire going and I went and got water for the three of us from the shelter.

Three Ridges Wilderness

Three Ridges Wilderness

Overlook

Where we are heading!

Pretty sure these are rhododendron, which must be beautiful in the spring!

Love the brush

View

Tye River suspension bridge

Entering the Priest Wilderness

View from our campsite

Sunset

Day: 170
Miles hiked: 13.5
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1367.5
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2

Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1